Neural networks are taking over the world. And this is not the plot of a new popular blockbuster. We now meet artificial intelligence everywhere: voice assistants controlling household appliances, virtual assistants in call centers, chatbots in messengers. The strange and crazy fantasies of the creators of fantastic books and movies are stealthily, gradually and firmly entering our lives, covering all spheres of society, including culture and art.
And now artificial intelligence has become the creator of the
Scientific progress in recent years has been developing at a rapid pace. Smartphones, laptops, new models of TVs and vacuum cleaners are becoming obsolete faster and faster. There are no longer floppy disks or even CDs in our lives.
Initially, artificial intelligence was conceived as a way to facilitate human existence, modernize production, and accelerate the pace of life. It was supposed to be just a tool, a convenient and necessary servant of man.
Yes, it is great that robots are increasingly beginning to help us and make our lives easier. They are indispensable in production, services, and everyday life. But there is one area where artificial intelligence should be used with caution. And this is the sphere of art. Although this is where it actively “strives” and “conquers” the heights of artistic creativity. Neural networks are used to paint pictures, create sculptures, books, scripts, musical works, movies, computer games, animation, architectural and design projects.
What are the contradictions of implementing AI in the creative field
At all times, the sphere of artistic creation has been considered sacred. Art has always been associated with the manifestation of the individuality of its creator, with the expression of the inner world of a particular person, his personality, ideas and fantasies.
So what role is left for humans when they turn to neural networks? The use of artificial intelligence in the creation of works (musical compositions, books, paintings, magazine articles, etc.) fundamentally changes the status of man as a creator, as a result of which he turns from a sole author into a technical adjuster and adjuster of equipment.
The activity of neural networks is a clear adherence to certain algorithms and schemes. Of course, every work created by AI is a fanciful combination, a kaleidoscope of existing patterns. But neural networks are far from perfect, and what they create often looks monotonous and emotionally cold.
Thanks to artificial intelligence, everyone can feel like an artist, musician or writer, to indulge their vanity. This is both good and bad. On the positive side, creativity is becoming closer and more accessible to people. In order to draw a picture with the help of AI, you do not need to study at the Academy of Arts and master the technical wisdom of drawing and coloring, but it is enough to “tell” the algorithm about your fantasies. But the negative side is much more weighty – art becomes even more mass-produced, deprived of its elitist status and sacred spirit.
Advantages and disadvantages of neural network-generated works
Works created by artificial intelligence have both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include:
- relative diversity (many variants of compositions on a given theme);
- high level of technology;
- great speed of operation;
- monetary savings.
Major drawbacks:
- limited capabilities: neural networks still contain a limited set of templates they operate on and are not always able to accurately capture the flight of human imagination;
- lack of strict control: it is difficult to manage and direct the activity of artificial intelligence, as it works according to its own laws;
- authorship problems: this is probably one of the most serious issues that humanity will have to deal with in the future development of “robotic” creativity.
And are there positive prospects for the application of neural networks in the arts?
Further penetration of artificial intelligence into artistic creativity is inevitable, and we just have to live with it. But not everything is so sad in this sphere. Modern, positively-minded thinkers and analysts believe that man and artificial intelligence can “agree” – become co-authors, complement each other in a dignified and organic way. Neural networks offer ready-made solutions and templates to man, and he, in turn, is able to creatively interpret them, relying on his own imagination, individual perception and personal concepts. In the hands of skillful creators, artificial intelligence can become a useful tool and a wide experimental field. The main trump cards that humans still have are the ability to generate ideas and experience vivid emotions.
Natalia Khadeeva